Since my favorite NBA team has decided to find as many new ways to blow a lead as is humanly possible, which means all of the games we record get deleted from the DVR without being viewed (we are not masochists, after all), I find myself with plenty of free time to analyze the American League.
East: the Yankees are loaded offensively. But they've been loaded offensively for years and have nothing much to show for it. And, if the recent past is any indication, when they need another arm, they invariably go out and get...another bat. However, they are, on paper at least, still the class of the East. And if they can get something approaching consistent pitching they might just run away with the division. Tampa will be right there if they don't, and are a good bet for a Wild Card. Even without two top starters, Morton and Snell, the Rays are a solid team with a history of beating seemingly superior Yankee teams. Toronto also has a strong everyday lineup, but their pitching is a little too shaky. And, because of the CoVid pandemic, they're stuck playing "home" games down in Florida until at least early in May--and probably longer, what with mutations and many Americans dimwitted hesitancy to get vaccinated or wear masks. That dislocation has to be weird for everyone involved. Boston has Alex Cora back as manager and, as a result, will probably lead the league in sign stealing. The Red Sox pitching is also weak (a theme is emerging) and they just don't have the offense they once had. (They should have tried harder to keep Mookie Betts). And down the road in Baltimore, it will be a loooong season yet again. Repeat after me: great town, great fans, great ball park, bad Orioles. It feels like they are in the tenth year of a 3 year rebuild. People usually get fired for that sort of thing. And so it goes...
Central: should be a three team race for first. Minnesota, Chicago and Cleveland all have things to recommend them. And all have things that make you go hmmm. The White Sox have strengthened their rotation and have a couple of interesting young bats. And, of course, manager Tony La Russa, who actually invented baseball. Just ask him. The Twins are the defending division champions, which ought to count for something. However, their starting pitching looks like a collection of number 3 starters, discarded by other teams. That may be enough to win the Central, though. And in Cleveland, city of lights, city of mystery, the Indians lost their best everyday player and wish they had a collection of number 3 starters to plug in after Shane Bieber. Still, since neither Chicago or Minnesota is that good, the Indians have a shot. Which is more than can be said for Kansas City and Detroit. It wasn't that long ago that the Royals won a couple of pennants and a World Series. But it probably feels like centuries to their fans. If they can get anywhere near to 75 wins it will be surprising. Same goes for the Tigers. Apparently they have lots of young arms just waiting for a chance. Good luck with that. By the time they're ready, if they're ever ready, Miguel Cabrera will be in the Hall of Fame.
West: miserable cheaters though they may be, the Astros are still the best team in this division. (see "Life Isn't Fair" part one trillion). And while they have lost a few key pieces along the way, they're just better than the A's and Angels. So, Houston in first, Los Angeles and Oakland battling it out for second and a possible Wild Card. It would be nice to see Mike Trout, Ohtani, and Pujols in the playoffs together just once. But I suspect that the Angels' pitching will have to really step up to get them there. Oakland lost some key players. This seems to happen nearly every year, usually for monetary reason. And yet the A's has been weaving serviceable tapestries out of scraps of burlap for years, so if L.A. doesn't get enough pitching, Oakland will slide past them into second. Maybe someday they'll get a new stadium, too. In Seattle, the Mariners have a very young, unproven team. This does not bode well for their season. Some of the youngsters will pan out, some will not. Such is life. And in Texas, the Rangers are officially in tear-it-down mode. Maybe by the time they're finally competitive again, Texas will have gotten rid of their 2 ridiculous Senators. Maybe not.
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